India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue Set to Boost Defence Cooperation and Tackle Regional Challenges

The fifth India-US 2 2 Ministerial Dialogue is set to take place in New Delhi on November 10, focusing on defence and security cooperation. This high-level event will bring together key officials from both countries, including India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, as well as their US counterparts, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The dialogue aims to review progress across various aspects of defence and security collaboration, technology partnerships, and people-to-people connections. The ministers will also discuss the future roadmap for the India-US partnership, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden. One of the key focuses of the dialogue will be the Indo-Pacific region, including joint ventures for defence equipment development. The talks will also address ongoing negotiations for the US to supply engines for Indian fighter jets, MQ-9 Predator drones, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Since the 2 2 Ministerial Dialogue began in 2018, it has served as a platform for India and the US to address common concerns and strengthen their bilateral relations. Furthermore, the dialogue will touch upon global and regional issues, such as the China-Indo-Pacific dynamics, Quad cooperation, as well as conflicts like the Israel-Hamas and Ukraine-Russia wars. Additionally, India's recent diplomatic spat with Canada is expected to be discussed in a bilateral meeting between S Jaishankar and Antony Blinken. Both sides are eager to reaffirm their commitment to the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, highlighting the significance of this dialogue in strengthening their already remarkable partnership.

The previous state visit by Prime Minister Modi earlier this year laid the groundwork for this dialogue, with a focus on defence technology transfer, strategic technology collaborations, nuclear cooperation, and people-to-people ties. The MoU signed by GE and HAL for the manufacture of fighter jet engines in India was a major outcome of this visit. Under the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), the two countries have been working to finalize a defence industrial roadmap for joint development and production. Additionally, they intend to work towards a pact for the development of next-generation small modular reactor technologies. Overall, the fifth India-US 2 2 Ministerial Dialogue holds the promise of further strengthening the defence cooperation between the two countries, as they discuss shared priorities, regional issues, and enhance their collaborative efforts within the Indo-Pacific and beyond.